See the Fiscal Cliff article for further details.

If interested, contact your IRA fund administrator to discuss how to make a direct IRA Charitable Rollover or contact Stuart Merritt, Lakeland Planned Giving Director, at 920.565.1383 or merrittsk@lakeland.edu for assistance.

If you have already taken a distribution from your IRA in December, 2012 all is not lost. Contact us or your IRA plan administrator, before the February 1 deadline and advise them that you would like the donation treated like a charitable rollover. They would be able to reverse the distribution and then make the direct transfer to Lakeland. We will then provide you a charitable gift acknowledgement letter for the charitable transfer. Make sure you keep records on this transfer for tax purposes.

IRA Charitable Rollover

This was approved and expanded for 2012 and 2013. The concept remains the same, allowing donors age 70 ½ to authorize the transfer of up to $100,000 from their IRA's directly to charity. The donor is not to redeem shares or take possession of the funds, or they will incur taxes. Like 2010, Congress approved a retroactive component to the bill. Any qualified distribution made before February 1, 2013 may be applied to your 2012 tax year and counted as a direct transfer to charity.

Individual Income Tax Rates Increase Only for "High Income Households"

The new law permanently extends the current tax rates (10 %, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33% and 35%) for all single taxpayers earning less than $400,000 and married couples earning less than $450,000. For the newly defined, "high-income households," those earning above the defined thresholds will be taxed at a new 39.6% rate.

Capital Gains Rates Increase for "High Income Households"

The exemption from capital gains for taxpayers below the 25% income tax bracket remains in place. Taxpayers in the 25% to 35% income tax brackets will continue to pay the 15% capital gains rate, and those in the new 39.6% income tax bracket will now pay a higher capital gains tax rate of 20%.

Estate, Gift and Generation-Skipping Tax Exemptions Remain with some changes

All three taxes are permanently unified at a $5 million exemption level per individual. This exemption is indexed to inflation in future years. The tax rate increases, from 35% to 40%, for those exposed to this tax. They have also permanently added a portability component, enabling the executor to transfer any unused exemption amount available from the first estate to the estate settlement amount for the surviving spouse.

Itemized Deductions and Personal Exemptions are Capped or Phased Out at Higher Income Levels

There is a cap for itemized deductions and a phase out of the personal exemption for persons earning $250,000 or more and for married couples earning $300,000 or more.

The Payroll Tax Cut Ends

The 2% Social Security tax cut was not renewed in the new legislation.

If you have questions about this new law or how it may affect your giving to Lakeland College, please contact, Stuart Merritt, the college's director of planned giving, at 920.565.1383 or merrittsk@lakeland.edu or contact your financial advisor. Thank you for your support of the educational mission of Lakeland College.

Generally, the broker or fund company will notify us that a named donor has, or will be initiating a gift of a specific number of shares of a stock or mutual fund, but that is not always the case. It makes our job easier, when we can easily match the gift received to a specific donor and send an acknowledgement letter to them for income tax purposes.

Please call Stuart Merritt, Director of Planned and Major gifts at 920.565.1383 or merrittsk@lakeland.edu and let us know that you are initiating a gift so that you can receive a proper acknowledgement from Lakeland College.

For more information, visit our Cash, Stocks & Securities page. Thank you for your support of Lakeland. We value your friendship.

Basics of Initiating the Rollover

1. The IRA owner must be 701/2 or older;
2. The owner may transfer up to $100,000 each year. A 2010 transfer qualifies for the required minimum distribution.
3. The transfer must be to a public charity (Lakeland College is a publically recognized 501 © 3) either outright or for a specific purpose, but may not be to a donor advised fund or supporting organization. The transfer is made directly from a trustee to the charitable organization. The donor should NOT take a withdrawal and then make a donation. Doing so in this manner saves the donor from having to take this distribution as taxable income.
4. The donor is to authorize the fund company (trustee) to send money directly from your account to the charity, or charities of choice.

If interested, please contact Stuart Merritt, Director of Major and Planned Gifts at Lakeland College for the name, address and tax ID number of the College to put in your e-mail to your IRA Custodian authorizing them to make the transfer to Lakeland College. Stuart's contact information is: 920.565.1383 or merrittsk@lakeland.edu.

Sample Donor e-mail to Send Your IRA Custodian to Authorize the Transfer

Dear IRA Custodian,

The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, effective from Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2011, permits a rollover directly from an IRA to a qualified public charity. As the owner of IRA account #_________________ that is in the custody of your organization, I request that you transfer from that account the sum of $_________________ to Lakeland College, P.O. Box 359, Sheboygan, WI 53082. The Treasury Tax ID Number for Lakeland College is 39-0821861.

It is my intention to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to Lakeland College from my IRA, which may fulfill part or all of my IRA required minimum distribution for this year.

This letter is sufficient authorization for you to make this QCD gift. However, if you require any further documents, please promptly e-mail those to me.

Cordially yours,

IRA Owner
John Q. Donor

Both houses of Congress have authored versions to extend this exciting charitable legislation for 2010, but have not yet produced a final bill to be signed into law by the President.

If you are at least age 701/2 and using a distribution from your regular or Roth IRA to make a charitable gift to Lakeland College is of interest to you, please consult your tax professional or contact Stuart Merritt, the Lakeland College Planned Giving Director, at 920.565.1383 or merrittsk@lakeland.edu to see if this opportunity is right for you, and to be ready by 12/31/2010, if the opportunity is again renewed this year.

Lakeland won the silver award in Best Practices in Fundraising and Development in the CASE District V competition, which includes colleges and universities in the Great Lakes region. Lakeland was in the category of schools with an enrollment of 2,999 or fewer full-time equivalents.

The Movers & Shakers Gala featured eight well-known area celebrities in a setting complete with red-carpet glitz, glamour and gourmet cuisine. Lakeland's Todd Wehr Center was transformed into a beautiful ballroom, including wall-to-wall carpeting, a massive lighting setup and huge video screens that let a who's who of Sheboygan County showcase their best moves.

The celebrities were each paired with a professional dancer, and after months of training, they competed to win the support of three professional judges and nearly 500 guests. Guests were allowed to "buy votes" to support their favorite dancer, which made the event interactive for the audience.

There was a central planning committee of 13 people chaired by Deb Wente, a member of the Lakeland Board of Trustees. The committee included two members of the SSO Board of Directors, the president of the Lakeland College Alumni Association, three other Lakeland graduates and two members of Lakeland's faculty.

A total of 42 full-time Lakeland staff members played significant roles in the event - everything from fundraising to PR to facilities to IT and business office needs. The SSO's two full-time staff were also heavily involved. EventWise, a local event-planning business, was used as a consultant to the planning committee. There were over 100 volunteers that served dinner, worked as bartenders, assisted the dancers and filled numerous other roles.

CASE is the professional organization for advancement professionals at all levels who work in alumni relations, communications and development. CASE's membership includes more than 3,300 colleges, universities and independent elementary and secondary schools in 54 countries around the world.

This star-studded night featured eight well-known area celebrities in a setting complete with red-carpet glitz, glamour and gourmet cuisine. Lakeland College's Todd Wehr Center was transformed into a beautiful ballroom, including wall-to-wall carpeting, a massive lighting setup and huge video screens that let a who's who of Sheboygan County showcase their best moves.

The celebrities were each paired with a professional dancer, and after months of training they competed to win the support of three professional judges and nearly 500 guests, who were busy buying votes throughout the evening. Yes, these dancers could be bought!

Deborah Wente, chair of the Movers & Shakers Gala and a Lakeland trustee, said the glamorous evening was a rousing success, setting a standard for fundraising events in the region.

"Our first event surpassed our wildest expectations," Wente said. "Our goal was to deliver a night that offered something special and unique, and the feedback we've received is that we certainly delivered.

"There were a number of people attending our event that have been supporting events like this for years in our community, and they can't ever recall experiencing something quite like this. It was very special, and we couldn't be happier with what we have been able to do for these two deserving organizations."

Michael Stayer-Suprick danced the fox trot and took home the first title, topping a field that included some of Sheboygan County's biggest names. Stayer-Suprick is president of West Shore Industries, specializing in consumer displays and exhibits, and a veteran of service to non-profit organization boards throughout Sheboygan.

The other seven dancers were:

• Nellie Schmitt, a busy community activist who is perhaps best known for her role as Patsy Cline in a local production of "Always ... Patsy Cline." She danced the rumba.
• Michael Brotz, president/CEO and chairman of the board of directors of Plastics Engineering Company, a Brotz Family owned and operated manufacturing firm in Sheboygan. He danced the fox trot.
• Laura E. Kohler, senior vice president of human resources for Kohler Company, who has a long history of involvement in and support of arts and education. She danced the cha-cha.
• Anne Nemschoff, a communications and marketing consultant with more than a decade of experience leading award-winning public relations campaigns for a client roster that includes nationally-recognized brands across the Midwest. She danced the jive.
• David Quasius, president of Quasius Construction, Inc., a provider of general construction services, established in 1891. He is a third generation family owner and a prominent community volunteer. He danced the American tango.
• Lois Pauls, a long standing volunteer and supporter of education and the arts in Sheboygan, who co-founded the Sheboygan Symphony Friends, was a charter board member of the Weill Center and president of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center Friends. She danced the waltz.
• Louie Gentine, president-Consumer Products Division, Sargento Foods, and a third-generation family owner. He served management roles in marketing, production and procurement prior to his current position. He danced the East Coast swing.

It was a full evening that alternated between celebrity dancing, a multi-course gourmet meal and a number of unique live auction items. The meal was prepared by Lakeland's food service and served by over 100 enthusiastic volunteers from Lakeland, the SSO and the community. Guests sat in beautifully-decorated tables surrounding the dance floor.

Live auction items included the opportunity to build a two-room school in Malawi, Africa, win a spot as a dancer for the 2009 Movers & Shakers Gala, take the podium to conduct the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra for a piece during their Christmas Treasures concert this December and win dance packages to Buenos Aires, Vienna and Sevilla, Spain.

Did you make a pledge to the Annual Fund this year during the phonathon? Has it been a while since you've supported your alma mater financially? Are you a recent graduate who is looking to give back to the school you cherish? Maybe you have just been thinking about a tax-deductible gift to Lakeland College.

No matter the reason you have not yet given to Lakeland, there is still time to do your part. The Lakeland College 2007-2008 Annual Fund is in need of a few good donors. Your gift to Lakeland provides support for many programs at our campus including scholarships for students like you were, funding for faculty salaries and professional development to improve the already superb quality of our instructors, support of academic and extracurricular programs like you were once a part of, and the maintenance of Lakeland's beautiful campus - just to name a few!

If you would like to support Lakeland's Annual Fund, no matter how much or how little, it is sincerely appreciated by the students, staff, faculty, alumni, and friends of the college. You can do your part by making a gift online or using the envelope included in the LAKELAND magazine. Remember, the Annual Fund is the best way for you to support Lakeland. It is all about providing educational opportunities, enabling great teachers to impact the lives of young people, and giving back to help others to help themselves.

• Staci Abrahamson 3rd year Theater/Writing major from Pittsville, WI
• Jessika Bragg 1st year Computer Science major from Milwaukee, WI
• Justin Dilworth 1st year Non-profit Organization Management major from Milwaukee, WI
• Trisha Finster 4th year Non-profit Organization Management major from Elkhorn, WI
• Whitney Hansen 2nd year Business Management major from Sturtevant, WI
• Bridget Johnston 1st year Criminal Justice major from Mondovi, WI
• Megan Locy 1st year Education major from Montello, WI
• Tiffany Magley 1st year Education major from Greenleaf, WI
• Chris Peeters 4th year Marketing major from De Pere, WI
• Lori Sass 1st year Hospitality Management major from Sheboygan, WI
• Katie Sauld 1st year Sociology major from Niagara, WI
• Aamin Stokes 1st year Business major from North Chicago, IL
• Ezra Tinkle 1st year Nonprofit Organization Management from Elkhart Lake, WI
• Kendall Weber 1st year Hospitality Management from Sturgeon Bay, WI